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Welcome to the June edition of the Seniors newsletter. In this issue, we focus on the cost of living. We share some practical advice on how to save money on your health, home and everyday expenses. In her editorial, Minister for Seniors Ginny Andersen discusses some of the measures in Budget 23 that will help older New Zealanders.
We also look at support available for those experiencing elder abuse. June 15 is World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, and the Office for Seniors works to raise awareness about abuse, and its signs. We’ll tell you more about the Elder Abuse Response Service and how you can support our campaign to fight elder abuse.
It is National Volunteer Week from 18 -24 June 2023 and one of our readers shares their story. With over a million of us volunteering it’s an opportunity to join #theBigShoutOut and thank those who give their time and effort to make a difference in our communities. |
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| From Minister for Seniors Ginny Andersen |
 As you will have seen, the cost of living and rising costs were a big focus for the Budget announcement in May. Our challenge was to create a Budget that returns New Zealand to a more sustainable fiscal position, while easing the pressures that Kiwis are facing in their everyday lives.
One of the key initiatives in Budget 2023 is the removal of the $5 prescription co-payment for medications. This is specifically targeted to remove a financial barrier prevents many people from getting the medications they need. Last financial year, 135,000 people did not collect prescriptions because of the cost.
We’ve committed $619 million over four years, so that when you go to the pharmacy, you will no longer be asked to pay an additional $5 per item. This will be significant for the thousands of people on multiple medications. If you previously had four prescriptions, you would have been paying $20 every time you collected them. Now, that cost is gone.
Budget 2023 also invested to extend and expand the Warmer Kiwi Homes programme. This is a great initiative, that will improve people’s health by creating warmer, drier homes - and reducing associated health issues. Promoting energy efficiency also means lower energy bills for those on fixed incomes. The programme also offers financial support for home improvements light insulated, heating and LED lighting, making them more affordable.
My hope is these announcements will mean no one has to make the difficult choice between their health and their wallet this winter.
As we head into the colder weather, if you haven’t already, I encourage you to get your COVID-19 booster and Flu Vaccinations. Remember they’re free. You can book online or call 0800 28 29 26.
Also remember that the Winter Energy Payment has begun and will run until 1 October. For single or widowed persons, the rate is $20.46 a week, and for couples or people with dependants, it's $31.82 a week. You should receive this payment automatic, so there is no need to apply for it.
Stay warm, stay safe
Ngā mihi,
Ginny Andersen
Minister for Seniors |
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| Help us fight Elder Abuse |
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Elder abuse is not spoken of openly, but it is probably much more common than you might think. Mistreatment is shrouded in secrecy and hidden behind closed doors.
The Office for Seniors works to raise awareness of elder abuse and of the support available through the Elder Abuse Response Service (EARS) and its free helpline.
A hidden problem
Surprisingly, the true prevalence of elder abuse in New Zealand is not well understood.
It’s believed as many as one in ten New Zealanders will experience elder abuse in their lifetime. Overseas studies have similar figures. But the true extent of the problem is unknown, largely due to the barriers that prevent those being abused from getting help.
Many victims of abuse are often too frightened or vulnerable to speak up. In Australia, a national prevalence study discovered that 60% of elder abuse victims do not seek help. When they do, they're more likely to turn to informal sources like family and friends.
World Elder Abuse Awareness Day
WEAAD (June 15) is an international awareness day to raise awareness about elder abuse and offer support to older people in need. This year, we're expanding our WEAAD campaign to span the entire month of June.
We’ll launch two new publications on how to identify abuse, and three new videos on how to identify the signs of financial abuse, psychological abuse, and neglect.
Our message is that if somebody suspects an older person is being abused, it is important to seek help - as the victims of abuse may not have the strength, awareness or even understanding to do so themselves. The Elder Abuse Response Service offers a free, confidential 24-hour helpline, available to anyone - whether they are concerned for for others, or for themselves.
Please keep an eye out for the new videos on our Facebook page, and help us raise awareness by liking and sharing them.
If you have concerns about how you are being treated or feel frightened or at risk, help is available. It’s free, and available 24 hours a day. Freephone: 0800 32 668 65 Text: 5032 Email: support@elderabuse.nz |
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| Digital literacy training for seniors |
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The Office for Seniors will be supporting six providers to deliver digital skills training to 5,000 more older people as part of the Digital Literacy Training for Seniors Programme.
The programme will be available in a number of locations across the country with a particular focus on diverse cultural needs to ensure essential skills training is accessible to all older New Zealanders.
This programme is an extension of the award winning Digital Literacy Training for Seniors programme. Budget 2022 allocated additional funding of $1.341 million over three years to continue and expand the programme. The programme will:
- target older population groups at greater risk of digital exclusion inclusion
- improve the sustainability of digital programmes for older people.
For more information on go to our website below. |
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| Warmer Kiwi homes |
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Save money, and enjoy a cosy home this winter
Warmer Kiwi Homes is a government programme offering 80% of the cost of ceiling and underfloor insulation and up to 80% of the cost of an energy-efficient heater to eligible homeowners.
More than 110,000 installations of insulation and heaters have already happened all around Aotearoa New Zealand, making tens of thousands of families happier in their homes. It’s easy to apply – simply check out the contact details below, and a service provider will confirm you are eligible for a grant and visit your home to make sure insulation and/or a heater can be installed. If everything is approved, you arrange a day and a time to have the installations done.
Whether you’re eligible for Warmer Kiwi Homes or not, everyone can find ways to save money on their power bill.
Consumer NZ and Warmer Kiwi Homes have teamed up to bring you some simple tips and tricks to help you. The average household can save up to $500 a year simply by making some of these small changes.
- Check your power plan. You can use the Powerswitch website to easily compare thousands of power plans by answering a few simple questions – go to www.powerswitch.org.nz. You save up to $300 - 400
- Get the most out of your heat pump – Set your heat pump to a maximum of 21 degrees – save up to $320
- Shorten your showers to five minutes – save up to $260 per person
- Change your washing machine settings to cold wash – save up to $50
- Switch off your appliances at the wall when you’re not using them – save up to $100
For details on these changes, and more advice and information, visit Save500.org.nz.
For Warmer Kiwi Homes eligibility: Homeowners may be eligible if they have a Community Services Card or live in a lower-income area.
Visit the Warmer Kiwi Homes website below or Freephone 0800 749 782 |
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| My MSD /Senior Services 0800 number |
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We know some clients are experiencing delays being able to call the MSD Seniors line. Over recent months MSD has been supporting those affected by the floods and cyclone.
Did you know you can do a lot online? MyMSD is a great option for some services such as:
- checking upcoming payments
- updating contact information (including updating your email address)
- viewing letters
- going overseas
- requesting help with one-off costs.
Information about the services MSD offers to Seniors can be found at the Work and Income website here. To register for MyMSD visit here.
If you can’t find what you need online, you can call MSD. The Seniors line is available Monday-Friday, 7am – 6pm and 8 am to 1 pm on Saturdays.
Phone: 0800 552 002
When you call, entering your 9-digit client number and answering any security questions that may be asked will allow for faster handling of your call. We also have a callback system which provides you with the option to either wait on the line, or to automatically be called back by a Customer Service Representative (CSR) when you reach the front of the queue. You’ll need to ensure the call is made from a valid phone number (ie: not withheld or private) so our system knows what number to reach you on.
For other enquiries, such as Community Services Cards, SuperGold Cards, Veteran’s Pension or how to contact MSD if you're deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech impairment, you can find the contact details on the Work and Income website below.
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| Reducing stroke risk |
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Over 9,500 people experience strokes each year – that’s one every 55 minutes. A stroke is a sudden interruption of blood flow to part of the brain causing it to stop working and eventually damaging brain cells.
During a stroke, the cells in the affected part of the brain start to die and that part of the brain cannot work properly. This can affect a person’s ability to walk, talk, eat, see, read, socialise or do things they were able to do before the stroke.
The impact of Stroke
Different parts of the brain control a person’s movements, senses, emotions and intellectual functions. The effects of stroke depend on which part of the brain is damaged and how severe the damage is.
Disabilities from stroke range from slight to severe. Some people make a speedy recovery and return to their normal lives. Others have disabilities that may improve with time and can be managed. For many, disabilities may last a lifetime. A small number of people will need full time medical care.
Reduce your risk of stroke
Over three quarters of strokes can be avoided by making healthy lifestyle changes.
- Be smokefree and vapefree.
- Move more. Be active for at least 30 minutes on most days of the week.
Get your blood checked regularly:
High blood pressure is a leading risk factor for stroke. A person with high blood pressure is up to seven times more likely to have a stroke than someone with normal or low blood pressure. The only way to know if you have high blood pressure is to get it checked. Other things you should get checked are your cholesterol levels and for atrial fibrillation (irregular heartbeat). Follow any treatment advised by your doctor.
Eating healthy foods
A healthy balanced diet includes lots of fresh vegetables and fruit, grains, and a moderate amount of lean meat or low-fat protein. It also includes low fat dairy foods, soy or legume products. Each day, try to eat vegetables, fruit and legumes of different colours. Vegetables and fruit contain antioxidant vitamins and potassium, both good for the arteries. Fibre, such as in cereals, whole grain bread, beans, peas, nuts and seeds, helps reduce cholesterol. Dairy products, such as low-fat milk, yoghurt and cheese, contain both protein (to help growth and repair of our bodies) and calcium (to help keep bones strong). Cut down on fatty, salty, sugary foods and drinks.
Eat less salt and less processed food and keep your alcohol intake low.
Be smoke free and vape free and try get in regular physical activity 30 minutes a day, most days of the week.
You can find out more on how to reduce your risk of stroke by visiting the stroke website below. |
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| Help with living expenses |
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If you find yourself facing financial difficulties or encounter unexpected bills that have put you in a tough spot, Work and Income may be able to offer a helping hand. Extra assistance like this is subject to income and asset testing, and you may have to pay the money back depending on your circumstances.
Accommodation costs
If you need help to pay rent or other accommodation costs, or support to stay in your home, visit here.
Repairs and maintenance
If you need money for essential repairs or maintenance, such as replacing a hot water cylinder, or repairing a roof, Work and Income may be able to help. Visit here. You may have to pay the money back depending on your situation.
Power, gas, water bills or heating
If you have an urgent power, gas or water bill to pay, or you need help with heating costs, visit here. You may have to pay the money back depending on your situation.
Dental treatment
If you're on a low income or benefit, Work and Income may be able to help you pay for immediate and essential dental treatment. Visit here.
Whiteware (e.g fridge, freezer, washing machine)
Work and Income may be able to help you buy whiteware if you’re on a low income or a benefit, visit here. You will have to pay the money back.
Glasses
If you’re on a low income or benefit Work and Income may be able to help you with the cost of eye tests and glasses. Visit here. You will have to pay the money back.
You can find out more about these, and other ways Work and Income can help with urgent and unexpected costs below. |
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| Intergenerational digital project brings ages together |
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Our Age friendly Fund supports communities to become age friendly and funds projects that promote the inclusion and contribution of older people. FOTO IWI is one successful group that received $13,000 for their project titled “Regenerate”.
The group is a charitable trust that was founded in Hawkes Bay in 2018. Their purpose is to encourage youth creativity through digital media, they run workshops and also create their own newspaper.
FOTO IWI were funded for their digital media project, “Regenerate” which focused on creating a series of images that depicted the relationship between young people and seniors, highlighting the groups connection in a positive way.
Older people were the main subject in the exhibition and stories were captured throughout. One subject had taught music for 60 plus years and was now in her eighties, another had been a scout leader for 40 plus years. Their images were taken and stories collected, archiving their special shared memories. Collectively the images were all turned into an exhibition.
The exhibition was unique and the images were printed on 2metre high cotton fabric, suspended just like a clothes line with pegs. Quotes from the stories were used alongside the images.
“We feel we really created something special that made people take notice through the way the exhibition was curated. Seeing people coming together of all ages and wandering through the exhibition was pure joy.” Shayne Jeffares, Manager, FOTO IWI.
The exhibition will be made available to local organisations and will be exhibiting at the regional photography festival in September 2023 at the Hastings Library. You can also view the festival website for the event below. |
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| Volunteering at any age |
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To mark the celebration of volunteering week, we caught up with one of our readers Barbara who is an avid volunteer.
For many seniors, retirement is not just the closing of one chapter, but the beginning of another. At 73 years old, Barbara Strong is a enthusiastic, attentive and treasured volunteer at Orere School located on the outskirts of Auckland. Barbara initially applied as a part time teacher aide back in 2019.
“My application was successful – it was lovely not to be met with ageism. I worked for a term as a teacher aide and then volunteered off and on during the next two years. I plan to continue this role for the foreseeable future.”
“I love what I am doing as a volunteer. I am able to go to school when it suits me. This is great as my husband and I have a mobile home, so plan to be on the road for blocks of time. I know volunteering is good for me. I enjoy being part of a group of younger people. I have read that it is good to make an effort to look nice, which I have to do at school rather than just stay in my gardening/dog walking clothes.”
Barbara is an ex teacher and completed her teaching certificate in the UK in the 1970s. During her career she completed her advanced diploma of teaching and then went on to complete two Masters degrees, one in general education and the second in special needs.
Barbara learns something new every day in her job. One day one of her five year olds asked her if she got the sack for wearing the same clothes every day! As you can see, children have a sense of humour too.
“It’s all these human interactions that make volunteering in a school so rewarding.”
“I would recommend volunteering in a school to anyone. My general experience is that people in schools are lovely and there is always work for another pair of hands. Skills such as knitting or sewing or gardening would be useful. I would recommend making an appointment to see the Principal and have a chat about how you might be able to help.”
To find out more on national volunteering week visit their website below. |
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| Half price travel for Community Services Card holders |
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Do you have a Community Services Card, or a combined SuperGold and Community Services Card? If you do, from 1 July 2023 you’ll be eligible for a continued 50% discount on public transport at peak travel times.
This discount is part of Community Connect, a government programme making public transport more affordable for more Kiwis.
Check the back of your SuperGold card to see if it’s combined with a Community Services Card. It will have ‘NZS/CSC’ opposite your client number.
To find out if you’re eligible for a Community Services Card, check Work and Income’s website here.
You can apply now for the 50% peak travel discount through your local public transport provider, so you’re ready to start using it from 1 July.
Visit the Work and Income website to learn more about Community Connect and how to access the discount. You can also talk to your local transport provider – they’ll be happy to help.
Free off-peak public transport continues to apply for all SuperGold cardholders. |
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| Why you have payment surcharges on your credit card and what you can do about it |
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You will have noticed that we are increasingly seeing more options for making payments for goods and services in New Zealand. We’ve come a long way in a short period of time from when there was only cash and cheques, and of course, Eftpos. We now have all sorts of new ways to pay (such as waving your card over an Eftpos machine or using your phone), however, some of these come with surcharges, just as cheques used to with a 25c clearance fee.
A surcharge is an additional cost to you, where you select a payment method that is more expensive for a seller to provide, such as credit card or contactless debit card. Where a seller provides multiple payment methods it is your choice which payment to use but there may be surcharges added to higher cost payment methods.
You must be informed of any surcharge before you pay and be made aware of cheaper ways to pay where available. At the Commerce Commission we expect sellers to offer at least one payment method that does not incur a surcharge - in many situations that will be by you inserting or swiping your debit or Eftpos card which has always been a free way for you to pay. If you’re paying online, we encourage sellers to provide an opportunity to pay via internet banking where feasible.
If you think you have been misled about a surcharge or you think it is too high you can make a complaint to the Commerce Commission. The following link to the Commissions website may be helpful. |
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| If the power goes out and there is an emergency, make sure you and your loved ones will be able to contact 111 |
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Most modern home phones require power to work - it’s important that you know what technology your home phone uses, and that you check your family and friends understand this and are prepared.
How can I check?
To test whether your home phone will work in a power cut, turn your power off (at the mains is best) and see if it works
Tips for being prepared
Recent weather events have shown how easy it is to lose contact…here are some things for you to think about
If your landline service is delivered over traditional copper lines, keep a corded phone handy as a backup that you can plug it into a phone jack if needed.
We suggest keeping a mobile phone handy and ready to use as a back-up in case of an emergency.
Make sure you keep your mobile phone charged – or purchase a portable power bank from an electronics retail store - and keep it charged in an easy to find place.
The Commission’s 111 Contact Code
The Commerce Commission’s 111 Contact Code is designed to protect vulnerable consumers with a home phone who can no longer call 111 in a power cut because they have moved to new home phone technologies like fibre and fixed wireless.
Under the 111 Contact Code a vulnerable consumer is somebody who:
- Relies on a home phone that is not Copper, to call 111
- Doesn’t have an alternative way to contact 111, such as a mobile phone
- Can demonstrate they are at particular risk of requiring 111 emergency services for health, safety, or disability reasons.
If you meet the above criteria, you can contact your provider to register as a vulnerable person. If you qualify, your provider will work with you to determine the right product to ensure you, or persons on your behalf, can contact 111 emergency services in a power cut.
The 111 Code has been in place since 2021 and is being reviewed this year. The Commission will be asking Emergency Services, Consumer Groups, and home phone providers for their views on how the Code is working and if any improvements can be made.
For more information visit the website below. |
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| You’re receiving this email because you’ve agreed to receive emails from MSD. Please add us to your address book or safe sender list to make sure you receive our emails. |
This email is sent from an account we use for sending messages only. If you want to contact Office for Seniors, please don’t reply to this email – we won’t get your response. Instead please contact us.
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If you’ve changed or are changing your email address, please let us know using MyMSD if you’re registered, or contact us.
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| Remember, we’ll never ask you for your account or login details by email. You can find out more in our privacy statement. |
Ministry of Social Development
56 The Terrace, Wellington 6011, New Zealand |
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